Copied from: Lone Star State; Lewis Publishing Co., 1893

PETER E. FARMER, a well-known and respected citizen of Blooming Grove, Texas is the subject of this sketch.  He was born in Franklin Co, TN on Nov 22, 1822, and was reared on a farm receiving only a common-school education.  He is the only [living] son of Peter and Susan (Ayers) Farmer.  The original family came from Germany, the mother being of English descent.  The family of Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, Sr., consisted of seven children, three of whom came to Texas, and now all of the family have passes away except our subject, the youngest.

The marriage of out subject took place in 1857, with Miss Margaret E. Morrell, a daughter of R. V. Morrell, of Kentucky, who came to Texas in 1842, became a prominent settler of Navarro County, and died April 1869.  he was born April 31, 1795.  His wife, Rachel, was born April 23, 1801, and died after coming to Texas, abt 1848.  Mr. and Mrs. Morrel reared a family of twelve children, all of whom are now dead but two, one the wife of our subject, and the other, a son, now in California.  Three of the sons served in the Mexican war.

Mr. Farmer came to Texas before marriage, first stopping in Navarro County, where he rented land and began farming.  In 1857 he married and in 1858 he bought a tract of land in Navarro county, but later went into Hill county, where he bought land, improved and then sold it, when he returned to his old home in Navarro county and there purchased a tract of 300 acres of land and now has 150 of it under cultivation by renters, who raise cotton and corn.

In 1890, our subject left the farm and moved into Blooming Grove, where he owns a residence and four other houses, which he rents.  In1843 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in 1863 he joined the Missionary Baptist Church and soon after began preaching.  Since that time he has continued in the work, having charge of many churches, and had the organization of three.  At present he has given them all up, but preaches whenever he is needed, or when he feels so inclined.

At the outbreak of the War, he joined Company E, Thirteenth Texas Infantry, and was detained for service to the mouth of the Brazos river, serving only four months, being discharged on account of age.  After the close of the war, he returned home, and has since been engaged in preaching and farming.  Mr. and Mrs. Farmer have had a family of Twelve children, one of whom died young.  Mary A. [Mary Abrigale] married . O. H. Fagala [Owen Holmes Kenyon Fagala] and lives in Georgia; Rachel died June 5, 1863, aged four years; Mattie married James Sloan and died at Kansas City June 19, 1888; James H. died January 19, 1888; Resses, Lollie, Attie, Emma, Katie, Ella, Bell, and John are at home.  The mother was born April 11, 1840, hence now is in her fifty-second year.  Nearly all of this large and most interesting family are members of the Baptist Church.  Mr. Farmer is a man most highly respected in the neighborhood by all who knew him.  He is a member of the Masonic order, and has always been a Democrat.

White Church Cemetery - Photo by Jeanna Chowning

Notes:

• White Church Cemetery, Blooming Grove, Navarro Co., TX
  b. 11/2/1822 d. 1/24/1917
  Enlisted August, 1961, Reserve Company, Navarro County, Captain B. F. Carroll commanding 19th Brigade, Texas Militia.  Moss' Company E, 13th Texas Infantry
• One of Peter's brothers, John Jefferson Farmer (1820-1892) is buried at the Raleigh Cemetery in Navarro Co., TX.  ...elw
• Obituary for Margaret Evelyn (Morrel) Farmer
• Text in Green, added by Ed Williams